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Driver's view of computer-generated F1 street course in London captured in video

June 28, 2012

As much as show the onlooker how a London Grand Prix through the city's streets might look, a futuristic computer-generated-image treatment has also been applied to a spectacular driver's point of view edit, providing a spectacular view of the route as seen from the driver's cockpit.

Formula One drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton were part of an unveiling ceremony for the London Grand Prix project on Thursday.

"Both Lewis [Hamilton] and I are hugely conscious of how integral the U.K. is to Formula One," Button said. "Silverstone [the current British Grand Prix racecourse] is a natural celebration of the U.K.'s contribution to Formula One. It is nice to add to this rich tapestry the notion of a London street race, and I agree with Lewis, it is a great hypothetical track to drive, and is as appealing as the reality of the Silverstone circuit."

In order to fashion a credible foundation for the concept, Santander commissioned Populous to undertake an extensive and wide-ranging approach to its feasibility plan for a London Grand Prix, embracing all logistical considerations from pits and paddock, grandstands, run-off areas, to curb profiling, access roads for safety and medical access, catch fencing design, noise attenuation strategies, a three-megawatt night race lighting system with 1,200 projectors, garage pods to house the teams in lightweight, eco-friendly and modern temporary buildings such as the media center. The integrated travel plan includes spectator entry and exit points which are all accessible via public transport.

"Delivering an event within an existing city is a lot more sophisticated than just sitting down with a copy of the A-to-Z," said Populous architect John Rhodes. "We mapped out some of London's most recognized places and landmarks and then worked out how we would integrate them within the layout. The design process was driven by the dual requirements of creating an exciting circuit and giving the best view of the iconic places associated with it. We surveyed the site very carefully so that the plan would be achievable for real. To provide some notion of the level of forensic detail we have considered, we accounted for no less than 27,000 trees in our plan and I am glad to say the race would not impact a single one."

The garages and hospitality suites are multi-purpose items which can easily be packed up and used elsewhere. It's a truly groundbreaking idea; and since the vast majority of emissions associated with Formula 1 races are produced by people travelling to the circuit rather than the operation of the racing cars themselves, a real-life London Grand Prix by Santander has been planned as an environmentally sustainable event.

The London Grand Prix film by Santander was premiered in the company of Bernie Ecclestone, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button on Thursday at the Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall.